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France invites Britain's Prince Charles to Paris climate conference

Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in the House of Lords, during the State Opening of Parliament 27 MayReuters/Alastair Grant/pool

French Ecology Minister Ségolène Royal on Thursday invited Britain's Prince Charles to the Paris climate change conference in December on a personal visit to his London home, handing over a written invitation from President François Hollande.

"The Prince of Wales can play a very important role with all the Commonwealth," she said after the meeting, hailing his "long-running, and so precious, commitment" to the defence of nature.

Prince Charles has recently come under fire in Britain for the "black spider memos", notes to government ministers on questions including the environment that have led to accusations of a departure from the political neutrality of the British monarchy.

Royal also met Britain's Environment Minister Amber Ross, later telling reporters that the British government was "very committed" to green policies and working with Paris and Berlin to ensure that the conference is a success.